Automobile holddown



E. S. EVANS AUTOMOBILE HOLDDOWN April 30, 1929.

Filed March 17, 1927 INVENT R. l d l/dfdfijz jdfid A TTORN E Y.

Patented Apr. 30, 1929.

UNITED STATES 1,711,089 PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD S. EVANS, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO THE EVANS AUTO LOADING CO. INC., 0]? DETROIT MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

AUTOMOBILE HOLDDOVJN.

Application filed March 17, 1927. Serial No. 176,189. r

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in automobile hold downs of the type employed in anchoring an automobile or other motor vehicle to the floor of rolling stocks during shipment tor holding the same against movement, and the primary object of the invention is to providea holddown that is non-elastic in a longit-in'linal direction but having a connection with an anchoring :t'oot possessing universal movement characteristics to facilitate the attachment of the holddown to a car floor and engagement with a partot the vehicle, such as the wheel huh or axle.

A further object of the invention is to provide a holddown of the above type wherein a single bar or rod extends between the engaged part oi the vehicle and the anchoring floor foot, the connection between the lower end ot the rod and the floor toot being in the nature of a universal joint while a single nut and retainer arm are associated with the upper end of the rod for anchoring the upper end of the rod to the engaged part of the automobile.

lVith the above and other objects in View that will appear as the natureoit the invention is better understood, the sauna consists in the novel form, combination and arrangements of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accon'i iianying drawing and claimed. V

In the accompanying drawing, wherein like reference characters are employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the seve al Views.

Figure 1 fragmentarily illustrates by dotted lines a side elevational view of an auton'lobile wheel with the axle thereof shown in section, the holddown being shown in side elevation anchored to the car floor with the upper end engaged with the vehicle axle and in position to be retained thereon;

Figure .2 is a View similar to Figure 1 showing the upper end of the holddown lockingly engaged with the axle;

Figure 3 is an edge elevational view ofthe holddown engaged with an axle and anchored to a car floor;

Figure 4: is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through the anchoring foot of the holddown with the lower end of the holddown rod shown in elevation and illustrating the enlarged head at the lower-end of the rod;

Figure 5 is a sectional view similar to Figure 1 of another form of construction wherein the lower end of the hold down rod threaded tor the reception of a nut that engages the llUlrltlOWll foot; and

Figlu'e (3 is a side chwational view rot another form of toot at angle strap formation engaged by the lower headed end oi; the holddown rod. i i

The holddown comprises a metallic bar or rod having a vertical leg llaterally bent at an angle at i! to term an arm with the outer end of the arm 2 bent dmvnwardly as at 3 with the terminal end. thereof threaded at 4.

The upper bent cud of the rod 1 is placed in enclosing relations rolat to the aide (iii the wheel *3 and means is associated with the upper bent end of the rod for retaining the same upon the axle 5. r e 1 A locking bar 7 having an opt-min}; therethrough adjacent each end and has one end slidably positionedupon the vertical rod. 1 while the opening in theothcr end of thebar is aligned with the end portion 3. The bar 7 is moved upwardly so that thethreaded end 1 ot the portion 3 extends through the opening in the bar as shown in Figural with a retherein through which the lower ends of therod 1 freely extend, and as shown in Figure 41, an enlarged head l is formed at the lower end of the rod for securing the anchoring foot to the holddown.

In assembling the parts of the holddown; the anchoring foot 9 first mounted upon the holddownrod and the bar 7 then placedthereon. The upper bent end of the holddown rod is then placed in enclosing relation with the vehicle axle 5 as shown in Figure 1 and the bar 7 moved upwardly asshown in Figure 2 into engagement with the lower side of the axle and to be so retained by the nut 8. The anchoring foot 9 is then anchored to the supporting floo1f12 and in view of the universal connection between the lowerend of the rod 1 and the anchoring foot, the usual angularity of the axle and any unevenness of the car floor is compensated for to permit flat engziigenient of the anchoring foot tleiige 10 with the ear floor.

Another form of connection between the lower end of the rod 1 on anchoring foot is show i in Figure 5, the rod it being threaded at its lower end as at for the reception of the nut, 16 that functions in lieu of the integral enh d head 1 upon the rod 1. as shown in. iiigrnre it. The ieenite obtained are the same except that the anchoring foot 9 may he mounted upon the holddown at the lower end 01? the rod 1.

As ehovn in Figure 6, the anchoring :i'oot comprises i, strap 20 oi on torinntir. n hav ing' side feet 91 to he s-seeured to the support 12 the intermediate portion oi: the strap hein? expat-ed unwerdiy "from the eopport 12 and having on opening" therein for the peeo; ot the leg); oi the hoiddown. it Will he observed from an i'iEI-'}O(Jill()11 ot Figure upon the rod 1. in substantially tint on its upper face while the lower face arched dm'vnwordiy werdly CEHTWL, while in the town .7 Von 'eion shown in Figure 6, the lower 12109 of the heed 14? upon the red 7 ie Hat and the ripper rte-co is eonveiged or arehed.

From the above do d ption of the invention it is htdi-vedri ii; he construetion and opera ion thm'eoi end at onee he apparent it being; noted that the Construction of the hoiddown in extremely simplified and that ein that the enhir ed heed let e rigid rod extende from the engaged pert oi? the Vehicle to the ear floor or other support and as shown in Fig ires 1 to 4t, only a single nut is associated with the i eprinn, huh or the him end While there ere herein. shown end desuj-rihed the pre L i-red enihodiinente of ti present in rention, is DQYGltdlQi'rje to rinihe'stood ti minor nejee may he mode therein Wit hoot deportn r troin the spirit and ecope ot the invention are ehiiined.

I chi-111i as: new "e niovzdide eonhetween the enchanting it'oot and non 1 .nend ier, mid non-e ostie niemher coni- :i rod iooeeiy eonneeted a: in; hnver o the ii'oot, the upper end of the rod heingj hurl bent to term on open side loop for ei "1e engaged pert. of the rehieie, a {U1 opening adjzieent each end retire rod and terminal porg'ion of the ent end to he phieed in engagement with the ed port of the which at the open side tie i-oop and inennegior retaining: the her nnornhie relatively to the engaged part of the vehieie.

"t teetimony whereof I oiii'x my Si n attire.

EDVARD S. EVANS 

